thor helping reroute bigley’s ravine at ponca

Ponca State Park asked THOR to help layout some new trail in order to lessen mtb interaction with motor vehicles. After studying the current trail system and surveying the topography, we all decided to add a new entrance, additional middle section, and exit to Bigley’s Ravine Trail across from the West Shelter.

The new trailhead is 100′ to the east of the current TH. This switchbacks up and connects near the old exit. Follow the old trail to the top where a new section goes across a couple hollows and then climb back to the old trail. Follow old trail to the new exit section which dumps one out behind the indoor pellet gun range. One can then cross the road back to the West Shelter. Future trail may extend from south end of White Tail Trail and circumnavigate G8 area back to the West Shelter.

New trailhead across from West Shelter.

New exit into archery/gun range. This sequence of pics is looking up the trail. This is as far as we got working up from the end, about 150 yards of benching in 24 man hours.

Riding towards camera, this is a tight, downhill turn at the edge of the ravine. Will be on the brakes with trees to slow down just before going down a short 25% descent.

Now looking down the trail, here is a before-bench-cut picture.

Brandon and Matt looking at the nearly finished work. Still need full bench down steep part and broadcast soft dirt away from edge of tread.

Last part before dropping out on road behind pellet gun range.

First weekend of Oct: 23 man hours spent surveying land around Bigley’s Ravine Trail across from West Shelter and land north and west of G8 area. Taped first draft of layout for new Bigley’s Ravine trailhead section, and new middle section across a couple hollows. Flagged new trailhead section.

Fourth weekend of Oct: 24 man hours: tweaked flagging of first section, initial flagging of second section, initial survey and taping of new exit to archery range. 12 of 24 man hours cutting in beginning section sans trailhead. Over 500 yards of clearing tread of vegetation. Have a couple sections where benching is still required. Averaged about 40 yards per man hour for clearing tread of vegetation.

Fifth weekend of Oct: 48 man hours: tweaked flagging of trailhead, second section, and flagged exit section. Benched in trailhead and cleared vegetation off half of second section. 24 of 48 hours to full benched most final 150 yards of exit section to archery/gun range. Averaged about 6 yards per man hour to full bench. Where grade is over 25%, benching takes 7 times longer than grade with little benching needed.

Thanks to Jeff, Jennifer, Scott, and Tyler from Ponca State Park; Brandon, Matt, and Evie from Sioux City, Iowa; and Brian, Dale, and Paul from Omaha for the work accomplished thus far.